Vehicle collision avoidance assist system

ABSTRACT

A vehicle collision avoidance assist system, including: a forward obstacle detecting device; and a controller including an automatic braking control executing portion to execute an automatic braking control for permitting a brake apparatus to automatically operate and an avoidance control executing portion to execute, in addition to the automatic braking control, an avoidance control for pen fitting a steering apparatus to automatically operate, wherein the avoidance control executing portion is configured such that, when the forward obstacle detecting device detects, as a forward obstacle, a continuous obstacle that continuously extends diagonally forward so as to be inclined with respect to a forwardly extending centerline that forwardly extends from a center of the own vehicle, the avoidance control executing portion executes the avoidance control to enable the own vehicle to avoid the continuous obstacle such that the own vehicle travels along the continuous obstacle.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

The present application claims priority from Japanese Patent Application No. 2016-012572, which was filed on Jan. 26, 2016, the disclosure of which is herein incorporated by reference in its entirety.

BACKGROUND

Technical Field

The following disclosure relates to a vehicle collision avoidance assist system for assisting avoidance of a collision of one's own vehicle with an obstacle.

Description of Related Art

A vehicle collision avoidance assist system is for avoiding a collision between: a vehicle on which the system is installed; and an obstacle or for reducing damage at the time of the collision. When a risk or possibility that a vehicle will collide with a forward obstacle present ahead of the vehicle is high, a vehicle collision avoidance assist system disclosed in JP-A-2007-137116 executes an automatic braking control in which a brake apparatus installed on the vehicle automatically operates to brake the vehicle and an avoidance control in which a steering apparatus installed on the vehicle automatically operates to enable the vehicle to avoid the forward obstacle.

SUMMARY

The vehicle collision avoidance assist system in which the avoidance control is executable is still under development and has much room for improvement. Thus, the utility of the system can be enhanced by various modifications. An aspect of the disclosure provides a vehicle collision avoidance assist system having high practical utility.

A vehicle collision avoidance assist system according to one aspect of the disclosure is configured such that, when there is detected, as a forward obstacle, a continuous obstacle that continuously extends diagonally forward so as to be inclined with respect to a forwardly extending centerline that forwardly extends from a center of an own vehicle, an avoidance control is executed to enable the own vehicle to avoid the continuous obstacle as the forward obstacle such that the own vehicle travels along the continuous obstacle.

According to the vehicle collision avoidance assist system constructed as described above, a direction in which the own vehicle is to be steered is uniquely determined by detecting that the forward obstacle is the continuous obstacle, making it possible to reduce a processing load in determining an avoidance route.

FORMS OF THE INVENTION

There will be exemplified and explained various forms of an invention that is considered claimable. (The invention will be hereinafter referred to as “claimable invention” where appropriate). Each of the forms is numbered like the appended claims and depends from the other form or forms, where appropriate. This is for easier understanding of the claimable invention, and it is to be understood that combinations of constituent elements that constitute the invention are not limited to those described in the following forms. That is, it is to be understood that the claimable invention shall be construed in the light of the following description of various forms and an embodiment. It is to be further understood that, as long as the claimable invention is construed in this way, any form in which one or more constituent elements is/are added to or deleted from any one of the following fauns may be considered as one form of the claimable invention.

The following form (1) is a base of the claimable invention. A combination of the form (1) and technical features described in any of other forms corresponds to the claimable invention. Specifically, a combination of the form (1) and the form (5) corresponds to claim 1. A form in which the technical features of the form (6) are added to claim 1 corresponds to claim 2. A form in which the technical features of the form (4) are added to claim 1 or 2 corresponds to claim 3. A form in which the technical features of the form (2) are added to any one of claims 1-3 corresponds to claim 4. A form in which the technical features of the form (3) are added to claim 4 corresponds to claim 5.

(1) A vehicle collision avoidance assist system for assisting avoidance of a collision: between an own vehicle on which the system is installed; and an obstacle, the system comprising:

-   -   a forward obstacle detecting device configured to detect, as a         forward obstacle, one of objects present ahead of the own         vehicle that will hinder the own vehicle from travelling         forward; and     -   a controller including (a) an automatic braking control         executing portion configured such that, when a risk of collision         of the own vehicle with the forward obstacle detected by the         forward obstacle detecting device is high, the automatic braking         control executing portion executes an automatic braking control         in which a brake apparatus installed on the own vehicle         automatically operates to brake the own vehicle and (b) an         avoidance control executing portion configured such that, when         the risk of collision of the own vehicle with the forward         obstacle is still high even after the automatic braking control         has been executed, the avoidance control executing portion         executes, in addition to the automatic braking control, an         avoidance control in which a steering apparatus installed on the         own vehicle automatically operates to enable the own vehicle to         avoid the forward obstacle.

As mentioned above, this form is a base of the claimable invention. This forms lists basic constituent elements of the vehicle collision avoidance assist system of the claimable invention. The vehicle collision avoidance assist system of this form aims at avoiding the collision of the own vehicle with the forward obstacle mainly by automatically braking the vehicle when the risk of collision of the own vehicle with the forward obstacle is high and further by executing automatic steering in addition to automatic braking when the collision with the forward obstacle is unavoidable only by braking.

Whether or not the “risk of collision of the own vehicle with the forward obstacle is high” may be determined by various techniques based on a relative distance, a relative speed, and a relative acceleration, of the own vehicle and the forward obstacle, a time to collision with the forward obstacle, etc. Whether or not the “risk of collision of the own vehicle with the forward obstacle is still high even after the automatic braking control has been executed” may be determined with consideration given to deceleration of the own vehicle or the like, in addition to the relative distance, the relative speed, and the relative acceleration, of the own vehicle and the forward obstacle.

As the “forward obstacle detecting device”, there may be employed at least one of a radar-type device to detect the obstacle by reflection of a radio wave, a laser-type device to detect the obstacle by reflection of a laser beam, and a camera device to detect the obstacle by processing taken images. As the “brake apparatus”, there may be employed a brake apparatus of the so-called brake-by-wire configured to generate a braking force depending on a force generated by an actuator without depending on an operation force applied to a brake operation member. As long as the “steering apparatus” is capable of steering wheels depending on a force generated by an actuator, the “steering apparatus” may be a steering apparatus of steer-by-wire or a power steering device equipped with an assisting mechanism for assisting steering of the wheels by the actuator.

(2) The vehicle collision avoidance assist system according to the form (1), wherein the avoidance control executing portion executes the avoidance control when the forward obstacle detecting device detects the forward obstacle within a driving lane that is a driving range in which the own vehicle is to travel, so as to enable the own vehicle to avoid the forward obstacle within the driving lane.

This form is configured to enable the own vehicle to avoid, within the driving lane, the forward obstacle that is present in the driving lane. For instance, this form enables the own vehicle to avoid the forward obstacle preset in the driving lane without going out beyond the driving lane. In other words, this form is configured not to execute the avoidance control when it is impossible for the own vehicle to avoid the forward obstacle within the driving lane. That is, this form prevents the own vehicle from coming into contact with other vehicles running outside the driving lane and persons present outside the driving lane, so as to prevent any possible secondary accident that would be otherwise caused by execution of the avoidance control. In this form, it is only required to determine, in the avoidance control, an avoidance route for the own vehicle within a limited range, making it possible to reduce a processing load in calculation for determination of the avoidance route, for instance.

(3) The vehicle collision avoidance assist system according to the form (2), further comprising a driving lane identifying device configured to identify the driving lane by recognizing a right boundary and a left boundary of the driving lane,

-   -   wherein the avoidance control executing portion is configured         such that, when the forward obstacle detecting device detects         the forward obstacle in the driving lane, the avoidance control         executing portion executes the avoidance control to enable the         own vehicle to avoid the forward obstacle such that the own         vehicle travels toward one of opposite sides of the forward         obstacle on which a distance between the forward obstacle and a         corresponding one of the right boundary and the left boundary of         the driving lane is larger than the other of the opposite sides.

It is desirable that a direction in which the own vehicle is to be steered in the avoidance control coincide with a direction in which the driver is supposed to operate. In this form, the direction in which the own vehicle is to be steered in the avoidance control is determined based on situations around the own vehicle. In this form, the direction in which the own vehicle is to be steered is limited to either the right side or the left side of the forward obstacle. Thus, the avoidance route is determined within a further limited range of the driving lane, making it possible to further reduce a processing load in determination of the avoidance route. The boundaries may include lane lines, guardrails, curbs, gutters, pavement edges. The “driving lane identifying device” may be a device configured to process taken images and to recognize the boundaries, namely, may be a device constituted mainly by a camera. In an instance where a camera device is employed as the forward obstacle detecting device, the camera device may function also as the “driving lane identifying device”.

(4) The vehicle collision avoidance assist system according to any one of the forms (1)-(3), further comprising an alert device configured to issue an alert to a driver of the own vehicle when there is a risk of collision of the own vehicle with the forward obstacle,

-   -   wherein the automatic braking control executing portion is         configured such that, when the driver performs no operation         after the issuance of the alert and the risk of collision of the         own vehicle with the forward obstacle accordingly becomes high,         the automatic braking control executing portion executes the         automatic braking control.

This form is configured to call a driver's attention before execution of the automatic braking control. It is desirable not to automatically brake the vehicle wherever possible. Thus, this form may be configured to await a driver's operation until a certain time before the own vehicle collides with the forward obstacle, for prioritizing the driver's operation. According to this form, it is possible to execute the automatic braking control and the avoidance control only just before the own vehicle collides with the forward obstacle.

(5) The vehicle collision avoidance assist system according to any one of the forms (1)-(4), wherein the avoidance control executing portion is configured such that, when the forward obstacle detecting device detects, as the forward obstacle, a continuous obstacle that continuously extends diagonally forward so as to be inclined with respect to a forwardly extending centerline that forwardly extends from a center of the own vehicle, the avoidance control executing portion executes the avoidance control to enable the own vehicle to avoid the continuous obstacle such that the own vehicle travels along the continuous obstacle.

This form determines the direction in which the own vehicle is to travel for avoiding the continuous obstacle detected as the forward obstacle in the avoidance control. According to this form, when the detected forward obstacle is the continuous obstacle, a steering direction in which the own vehicle is to be steered is uniquely determined, so that a processing load in determination of the avoidance route is reduced. The continuous forward obstacle is not limited to a continuous integral one such as a guardrail, a parapet or balustrade of bridges, and a fence. In an instance where a plurality of poles are arranged at a certain spacing interval, the poles may be the continuous forward obstacle.

(6) The vehicle collision avoidance assist system according to the form (5),

-   -   wherein the controller includes an avoidance control prohibiting         portion configured to prohibit execution of the avoidance         control, and     -   wherein the avoidance control prohibiting portion prohibits         execution of the avoidance control when the own vehicle will         stop at a position that is forwardly beyond a front end of the         continuous obstacle if the own vehicle stops by the automatic         braking control while avoiding the continuous obstacle by the         avoidance control.

In a case where a guardrail, which is provided on a road on which the own vehicle is travelling, ends ahead of the own vehicle, there is a possibility that another road may intersect the road on which the own vehicle is travelling. In this case, when the own vehicle runs out into another road, there is a risk that the own vehicle will collide with other vehicle that is travelling on another road. In this form, the avoidance control is prohibited from being executed when the position, at which the own vehicle will stop as a result of execution of the avoidance control, is forwardly located beyond the front end of the continuous obstacle as seen from the own vehicle. It is consequently possible to obviate a situation in which the own vehicle will collide with other vehicle that is travelling on another road different from the road on which the own vehicle is traveling.

(7) The vehicle collision avoidance assist system according to any one of the forms (1)-(6),

-   -   wherein the forward obstacle detecting device is configured to         detect, as the forward obstacle, a moving obstacle that is         moving in a right-left direction, and     -   wherein the avoidance control executing portion is configured to         execute the avoidance control to avoid the moving obstacle such         that the own vehicle travels in a direction opposite to a         direction in which the moving obstacle is moving when the moving         obstacle is moving away from a forwardly extending centerline         that forwardly extends from a center of the own vehicle and such         that the own vehicle travels in the same direction as the         direction in which the moving obstacle is moving when the moving         obstacle is moving toward the forwardly extending centerline.

This form determines the direction in which the own vehicle is to travel for avoiding the moving obstacle detected as the forward obstacle in the avoidance control. The direction is determined according to this form for avoiding a pedestrian or the like crossing the road on which the own vehicle is traveling. According to this form, even when the moving obstacle is moving toward the forwardly extending centerline at a certain speed and the moving obstacle is expected to go across the forwardly extending centerline if the moving obstacle keeps moving at the speed, the own vehicle travels in the same direction as the direction in which the moving obstacle is moving, so as to avoid the moving obstacle. According to this form, it is possible to avoid the moving obstacle with high reliability when the moving obstacle stops.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The objects, features, advantages, and technical and industrial significance of the present disclosure will be better understood by reading the following detailed description of an embodiment, when considered in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a vehicle on which a collision avoidance assist system according to one embodiment of the claimable invention is installed and a functional configuration of the system;

FIG. 2 is a schematic plan view of the collision avoidance assist system of the embodiment;

FIG. 3 is a plan view for explaining characteristics of the collision avoidance assist system, the view showing one example of a situation in which an own vehicle avoids a continuous obstacle;

FIG. 4 is a plan view for explaining the characteristics of the collision avoidance assist system, the view showing one example of a situation in which an avoidance control to avoid the continuous obstacle is prohibited;

FIGS. 5A and 5B are plan views for explaining the characteristics of the collision avoidance assist system, each view showing a situation in which the own vehicle avoids a moving obstacle;

FIG. 6 is a flow chart showing a program for a forward obstacle detecting process executed by a controller of the collision avoidance assist system of FIG. 1.

FIG. 7 is a flow chart showing a program for an automatic braking control executed by the controller of the collision avoidance assist system of FIG. 1;

FIG. 8 is a flow chart showing a program for an avoidance control executed by the controller of the collision avoidance assist system of FIG. 1.

FIG. 9 is a flow chart showing a subroutine for a continuous obstacle avoidance process executed in the program for the avoidance control shown in FIG. 8; and

FIG. 10 is a flow chart showing a subroutine for a moving obstacle avoidance process executed in the program for the avoidance control shown in FIG. 8.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENT

Referring to the drawings, there will be explained below in detail one embodiment of the claimable invention. It is to be understood that the claimable invention is not limited to the details of the following embodiment and the forms described in Forms of the Invention, but may be changed and modified based on the knowledge of those skilled in the art. It is further to be understood that modifications of the following embodiment can be provided utilizing technical features described in the Forms of the Invention.

Embodiment Configuration of Vehicle

FIG. 1 is a block diagram schematically showing a configuration of a vehicle 10 on which a collision avoidance assist system (hereinafter simply referred to as “assist system” where appropriate) according to one embodiment of the claimable invention is installed and a functional configuration of the assist system. The vehicle 10 on which the assist system is installed will be hereinafter referred to as “own vehicle 10” where appropriate. As shown in FIG. 1, there are installed, on the vehicle 10, a brake system 12, a steering system 14, and an alert device 16, in addition to the assist system.

The brake system 12 (as one example of a brake apparatus) is an electronically controlled hydraulic brake system, namely, a brake system of the so-called brake-by-wire. The brake system 12 is configured such that, in normal running of the vehicle 10, a hydraulic pressure to be supplied to brake devices 20 provided for respective wheels of the vehicle 10 is generated by a brake actuator 22 without depending on an operation force applied to a brake operation member. The brake system 12 includes a brake ECU 24, and the brake actuator 22 is controlled by the brake ECU 24.

The steering system 14 (as one example of a steering apparatus) includes: an electric power steering device 30 for assisting a driver's steering operation by a force generated by an electric motor; and a steering ECU 32 for controlling the electric motor. The electric power steering device 30 is configured to steer the wheels by both of an operation force applied to a steering operation member and an assist torque that depends on the force generated by the electric motor. The steering system 14 is capable of steering the wheels only by the force generated by the electric motor.

As also shown in FIG. 2, the assist system includes a DSS-ECU 40 for controlling the system, a stereo camera 42 and a forward millimeter wave radar 44 for detecting an object present ahead of the vehicle, and four lateral millimeter wave radars 46 for detecting an object present on each of a right side and a left side of the vehicle.

The stereo camera 42 is disposed at a front middle of the vehicle body and includes a pair of cameras arranged in a right-left direction of the vehicle for taking an image of the front side of the vehicle. The stereo camera 42 detects objects such as other vehicles, pedestrians, and structures, based on a parallax of an image of each camera (parallax image). It is possible to obtain a distance to each object based on the detection results. The forward millimeter wave radar 44 is disposed at the front middle of the vehicle body. The forward millimeter wave radar 44 is configured to emit a millimeter radio wave forward and to measure a radio wave reflected by and returned from the object present ahead of the vehicle, so as to detect the object present ahead of the vehicle. It is possible to obtain a distance to the object and a relative speed of the own vehicle and the object based on the detection results. The four lateral millimeter wave radars 46 are similar in structure to the forward millimeter wave radar 44 and are respectively disposed at a front right portion, a rear right portion, a front left portion, and a rear left portion, of the vehicle body, so as to respectively detect objects present on a front right side, a rear right side, a front left side, and a rear left side, of the vehicle.

As explained later in detail, the DSS-ECU 40 constantly monitors around the own vehicle 10 based on the detection results of the stereo camera 42, the forward millimeter wave radar 44, and the four lateral millimeter wave radars 46. When there is a risk of collision of the own vehicle 10 with the obstacle, the DSS-ECU 40 activates the alert device 16 and issues a command to the brake system 12 and the steering system 14, so as to avoid the collision with the obstacle. In this respect, the DSS-ECU 40 is connected to the brake ECU 24 and the steering ECU 32 via a car area network (CAN) 50 and is communicable with one another.

The vehicle 10 is further equipped with a vehicle speed sensor 52 for detecting a running speed of the own vehicle and an acceleration sensor 54 for detecting acceleration in the longitudinal direction of the own vehicle. The ECUs are configured to receive detection results of the vehicle speed sensor 52 and the acceleration sensor 54 via the CAN 50.

Operation of Collision Avoidance Assist System (a) Monitoring Front Side of Vehicle and Automatic Braking Control

While the own vehicle 10 is running, the DSS-ECU 40 constantly obtains the detection results of the stereo camera 42 and monitors whether any forward obstacle is present or not. The DSS-ECU 40 processes images of the pair of cameras obtained from the stereo camera 42 and obtains parallax images thereof. Based on the parallax images, the DSS-ECU 40 detects objects, such as other vehicles, pedestrians, and structures, and obtains a distance to each object. The DSS-ECU 40 determines whether there exists, among the objects present ahead of the own vehicle detected by the stereo camera 42, an object that will hinder the own vehicle 10 from travelling forward. When there is such an object, the DSS-ECU 40 determines the object as a forward obstacle A_(F). Based on the parallax images, the DSS-ECU 40 recognizes lines, namely, a right line L_(R) and a left line L_(L), respectively extending on the right side and the left side of the own vehicle 10 in the longitudinal direction, as a right boundary and a left boundary of a driving lane that is a driving range in which the own vehicle 10 is to travel, so as to identify the driving lane.

When the forward obstacle A_(F) is detected by the stereo camera 42, the DSS-ECU 40 obtains, from the detection results of the stereo camera 42, a relative distance D_(A) of the own vehicle 10 and the forward obstacle A_(F). The DSS-ECU 40 obtains the detection results of the forward millimeter wave radar 44 and corrects the relative distance D_(A) based on the detection results. The DSS-ECU 40 also obtains, from the detection results of the forward millimeter wave radar 44, a relative speed V_(A) and relative acceleration a_(A), of the own vehicle 10 and the forward obstacle A_(F). Subsequently, the DSS-ECU 40 calculates a time to collision TTC which is a time remaining prior to the collision of the own vehicle 10 with the forward obstacle A_(F), based on the relative distance D_(A), the relative speed V_(A), and the relative acceleration a_(A), of the own vehicle 10 and the forward obstacle A_(F), and deceleration of the own vehicle 10 by the brake system 12.

The assist system of the present embodiment uses the time to collision TTC as an index indicative of a risk or possibility of collision of the own vehicle 10 with the forward obstacle A_(F). Specifically, it is determined that there is a risk of collision of the own vehicle 10 with the forward obstacle A_(F) when the time to collision TTC becomes smaller than a first set value TTC₁. In this instance, the alert device 16 is activated to call a driver's attention. Specifically, an indication “BRAKE!” is displayed, and a buzzer sounds. When the driver does not perform any braking operation in spite of the warning by the alert device 16 and the time to collision TTC becomes smaller than a second set value TTC₂ which is smaller than the first set value TTC₁, it is determined that the own vehicle 10 is in a situation in which the risk of collision with the forward obstacle A_(F) is high, and the automatic braking control is executed.

In an instance where the driver starts the braking operation after the warning by the alert device 16 and before execution of the automatic braking control, braking assistance is executed. The braking assistance changes a braking-force generation state from a normal state in which the braking force is generated only by the fluid pressure generated by the brake actuator 22 without depending on the operation force applied to the brake operation member to a state in which the braking force is generated by both of the operation force applied to the brake operation member and the fluid pressure generated by the brake actuator 22.

When the conditions described above are satisfied and the own vehicle 10 is in the situation in which the risk of collision with the forward obstacle A_(F) is high, the automatic braking control is executed. In the automatic braking control, the brake system 12 mounted on the own vehicle 10 automatically operates without depending on the driver's operation to brake the own vehicle 10, for the purpose of avoiding the collision with the obstacle present ahead of the own vehicle or reducing damage by the collision. Specifically, when the time to collision TTC becomes smaller than the second set value TTC₂, the DSS-ECU 40 transmits, to the brake system 12, a request to execute the automatic braking control, and the brake system 12 controls the brake actuator 22 to brake the own vehicle 10 in the shortest distance.

Before transmitting the request to execute the automatic braking control, the DSS-ECU 40 estimates a stop position at which the own vehicle 10 will stop when braked and a position at which the forward obstacle A_(F) is located at the time when the own vehicle stops. It is determined, based on a relationship between those positions, whether the collision of the own vehicle 10 with the forward obstacle A_(F) is unavoidable or not. In the assist system of the present embodiment, the avoidance control is executed in addition to the automatic braking control when it is determined that the collision is unavoidable only by execution of the automatic braking control.

(b) Avoidance Control

In the avoidance control, the electric power steering device 30 automatically operates so as to steer the wheels for enabling the own vehicle 10 to avoid the forward obstacle A_(F) when it is determined that the collision is unavoidable only by execution of the automatic braking control. Specifically, the DSS-ECU 40 determines an avoidance route based on the parallax images of the stereo camera 42 obtained as described above. The avoidance route is basically determined by confirming routes for every steering amounts set within a range in which the own vehicle 10 is steerable and selecting the most appropriate one of the routes. In determination of the avoidance route, the stop position of the own vehicle 10 is estimated, and the avoidance route is determined in consideration of the stop position of the own vehicle 10.

In the avoidance control of the present assist system, before the avoidance route is searched for, estimation of the forward obstacle itself and estimation of situations around the forward obstacle are performed on the concept that a direction in which the vehicle is to travel to avoid the forward obstacle coincides with a direction in which the driver is supposed to operate. It is initially determined whether the forward obstacle is a continuous obstacle that continuously extends diagonally forward so as to be inclined with respect to a forwardly extending centerline which is a line forwardly extending from the center of the own vehicle 10, in other words, a line extending in a direction toward which the stereo camera 42 is directed. For instance, as the continuous obstacle, there are detected, ahead of the own vehicle 10 in the travelling direction thereof, a guardrail, a parapet or balustrade of bridges, a fence, a plurality of poles spaced apart from one another such that the spacing between adjacent poles does not allow the own vehicle 10 to pass therethrough.

A case shown in FIG. 3 will be considered. In the case shown in FIG. 3, the vehicle 10 is running with the vehicle body inclined with respect to the driving lane due to dozing of the driver, or the like. In this case, the guardrail 60 provided at the edge of the road is detected as the continuous obstacle that continuously extends so as to be inclined with respect to the forwardly extending centerline. In the case shown in FIG. 3, therefore, the direction in which the own vehicle 10 is to travel to avoid the continuous obstacle is uniquely determined so as to coincide with a direction along the guardrail 60. In the avoidance control executed in the present assist system, the avoidance route is determined so as to be extend along the guardrail 60. Thus, in the present assist system, when the detected forward obstacle is the continuous obstacle, the avoidance route is automatically determined, eliminating a need of searching for the avoidance route and largely reducing a processing load of the DSS-ECU 40.

A case shown in FIG. 4 will be considered. In the case shown in FIG. 4, the own vehicle 10 is stopped by the automatic braking control while avoiding the forward obstacle as the continuous obstacle by the avoidance control. In this case, the position at which the own vehicle 10 will stop may sometimes be forwardly beyond a front end of the guardrail 60, as shown in FIG. 4. In the present assist system, the avoidance control is prohibited from being executed when the position at which the own vehicle 10 will stop is forwardly beyond the front end of the continuous obstacle. In the situation shown in FIG. 4, another road extends so as to intersect the road on which the own vehicle 10 is running. Thus, the own vehicle 10 will run out into another road if the avoidance control is executed, causing a risk of collision with other vehicles running on another road. In the present assist system, however, execution of the avoidance control is prohibited as described above, obviating an occurrence of such an accident.

When the forward obstacle A_(F) is present in the driving lane of the own vehicle 10, the avoidance control executed in the present assist system enables the own vehicle 10 to avoid the forward obstacle A_(F) within the driving lane, namely, without going out beyond the driving lane. Further, when the forward obstacle is detected in the driving lane of the own vehicle 10, it is determined, in the avoidance control of the present assist system, whether the detected forward obstacle is a moving object, such as a pedestrian or a bicycle which is crossing the driving lane, or a stationary object. When the forward obstacle is the stationary object, the own vehicle 10 is enabled to avoid the forward obstacle A_(F) such that the own vehicle 10 travels toward one of opposite sides of the forward obstacle A_(F) on which a distance between the forward obstacle A_(F) and a corresponding one of left and right boundaries L_(L), L_(R) is larger than the other of the opposite sides.

On the other hand, when the forward obstacle is the moving object which is crossing the driving lane of the own vehicle 10, the own vehicle 10 avoids the moving object such that the own vehicle 10 travels in a direction opposite to a direction in which the moving object is moving in a situation in which the moving object is moving away from the forwardly extending centerline, as shown in FIG. 5A and such that the own vehicle 10 travels in the same direction as the direction in which the moving object is moving in a situation in which the moving object is moving toward the forwardly extending centerline, as shown in FIG. 5B. In the present assist system, even when the moving object is moving toward the forwardly extending centerline at a certain speed and the moving object is expected to go across the forwardly extending centerline if the moving object keeps moving at the speed, the own vehicle travels in the same direction as the direction in which the moving object is moving, so as to avoid the moving object. It is possible in the present assist system to avoid the moving object when the moving object stops.

Further, in the present assist system, when determining the avoidance route that enables the own vehicle 10 to avoid the forward obstacle A_(F), namely, the stationary object or the moving object, that is present in the driving lane of the own vehicle 10, the avoidance route is searched for within the driving lane only on one of the right side and the left side of the own vehicle 10. Thus, the processing load of the DSS-ECU 40 is considerably reduced in the present assist system, as compared with an arrangement in which the avoidance route is searched for over the entirety of the steerable range.

In the present assist system, when there are found no routes for enabling the own vehicle 10 to avoid the forward obstacle A_(F) within the driving lane, the avoidance control is not executed, and the damage by the collision with the forward obstacle A_(F) is reduced only by the automatic braking control. Though there is a possibility that oncoming vehicles, parallel running vehicles, pedestrians, bicycles, and so on are present outside the driving lane, the own vehicle 10 is prevented from going out beyond the driving lane due to the avoidance control. It is thus possible to prevent an occurrence of a secondary accident in which the oncoming vehicles, the parallel running vehicles, the pedestrians, the bicycles, and so on get involved.

In the present assist system, the lateral sides of the own vehicle 10 are constantly monitored by the four lateral millimeter wave radars 46, making it possible to avoid a collision of the own vehicle 10 with a lateral moving object, such as a motorcycle, a bicycle, or the like, which is moving in the same driving lane in the same direction as the own vehicle 10. When there is a risk that the own vehicle 10 will collide with the lateral moving object which is moving on its lateral side as a result of execution of the avoidance control in an instance where the avoidance route is determined in the avoidance control, the DSS-ECU 40 prohibits execution of the avoidance control and attempts to reduce damage by the collision with the forward obstacle A_(F) only by the automatic braking control. Thus, the present assist system obviates a secondary accident in which the lateral moving object gets involved, as a result of execution of the avoidance control.

In the present assist system, when the forward obstacle A_(F) is detected, the avoidance route for avoiding the forward obstacle A_(F) is searched for irrespective of whether the avoidance control is to be executed or not. Consequently, when it is determined that the avoidance control should be executed and the avoidance route is determined by the DSS-ECU 40, the avoidance control can be immediately executed in the present assist system.

Control Programs

The processes executed for assisting avoidance of the collision of the own vehicle 10 with the obstacle are executed such that the DSS-ECU 40 executes a program for a forward obstacle detecting process indicated by a flow chart of FIG. 6, a program for an automatic braking control indicated by a flow chart of FIG. 7, and a program for an avoidance control indicated by a flow chart of FIG. 8. These programs are repeatedly executed at a short time pitch from several to several tens of μsecs, for instance.

(a) Program for Forward Obstacle Detecting Process

In the program for the forward obstacle detecting process, images taken by the stereo camera 42 are obtained at Step 1 (hereinafter “Step” is abbreviated as “S”), and image processing is performed at S2 to form the parallax images and the planar two-dimensional map. At S3, solid objects or three-dimensional objects are detected based on the formed parallax images, and the boundaries of the driving lane are recognized so as to identify the driving lane.

It is subsequently determined at S4 whether there is a risk of collision of the own vehicle 10 with any of the detected solid objects, namely, whether any forward obstacle is present or not. When the forward obstacle is present, the detection results of the forward millimeter wave radar 44 are obtained at S5. At S6, the relative distance D_(A) of the own vehicle 10 and the detected forward obstacle A_(F) is obtained based on the detection results of the stereo camera 42 and the detection results of the forward millimeter wave radar 44, and the relative speed V_(A) and the relative acceleration a_(A), of the own vehicle 10 and the forward obstacle A_(F) are obtained based on the detection results of the forward millimeter wave radar 44. Subsequently, at S7, the time to collision TTC, which is a time remaining before the own vehicle 10 is expected to collide with the forward obstacle A_(F), is calculated based on the relative distance D_(A), the relative speed V_(A), and the relative acceleration a_(A). When no forward obstacle is present, S5-S7 are skipped. Thus, one execution of the program for the forward obstacle detecting process ends.

(b) Program for Automatic Braking Control

In the program for the automatic braking control indicated by the flow chart of FIG. 7, it is initially determined at S11 whether any forward obstacle is present. Only when the forward obstacle is present, S12 and subsequent steps are implemented. At S12 and S13, the value of the time to collision TTC is confirmed. When the time to collision TTC is larger than the first set value TTC₁, subsequent steps are skipped and no process is executed because enough time remains before the collision. When the time to collision TTC becomes smaller than the first set value TTC₁, the driver is notified of a danger of the collision, and the alert device 16 is activated to encourage the driver to operate the vehicle. When the time to collision TTC becomes smaller than the second set value TTC₂, the automatic braking control is executed according to the process of S15 and subsequent steps because the vehicle is in a situation in which the risk of collision with the forward obstacle is high.

Before the automatic braking control is started, there are estimated, at S15, the stop position of the own vehicle 10 at which the own vehicle 10 will stop when braked and the position at which the forward obstacle A_(F) is located at the time when the own vehicle stops. It is subsequently determined at S16 whether the collision of the own vehicle 10 with the forward obstacle A_(F) is unavoidable, based on the relationship between the estimated stop position of the own vehicle 10 and the estimated position of the forward obstacle A_(F). When it is determined at S16 that the own vehicle 10 will not collide with the forward obstacle A_(F), the control flow goes to S17 at which a command to execute the automatic braking control only by braking is transmitted to the brake system 12. On the other hand, when it is determined at S16 that the collision is unavoidable, a request to execute the avoidance control (according to the later explained program for the automatic control) is made at S18. Subsequently, at S19, a value of an avoidance control flag FL determined in the program for the avoidance control is confirmed. The avoidance control flag FL is set in the program for the avoidance control such that the flag value is 0 when the avoidance control is not executed and the flag value is 1 when the avoidance control is executed. When it is confirmed at S19 that the value of the avoidance control flag FL is 0, the control flow goes to S17 at which the command to execute the automatic braking control only by braking is transmitted to the brake system 12. On the other hand, when it is confirmed at S19 that the value of the avoidance control flag FL is 1, the control flow goes to S20 at which a command to execute the automatic braking control in accordance with the avoidance control is transmitted to the brake system 12. Thus, one execution of the program for the automatic braking control ends.

(c) Program for Avoidance Control

In the program for the avoidance control indicated by the flow chart of FIG. 8, it is initially determined at S21 whether any forward obstacle is present. S22 and subsequent steps are implemented only when the forward obstacle is present. When the forward obstacle is detected, it is determined at S22 whether the forward obstacle is the continuous obstacle. When the forward obstacle is the continuous obstacle, the control flow goes to S23 to execute a process for determining whether the own vehicle 10 can avoid the continuous obstacle. The process is executed according to a subroutine for a continuous obstacle avoidance process indicated by a flow chart of FIG. 9. In the subroutine, the avoidance route is determined at S41 so as to extend along the continuous obstacle. It is subsequently determined at S42 whether other obstacle is present in the determined avoidance route. When other obstacle is present in the avoidance route, the value of the avoidance control flag FL is set to 0 at S43 so as not to execute the avoidance control. When no other obstacle is present in the determined avoidance route, it is determined at S44 whether the own vehicle 10 will go forward beyond the front end of the continuous obstacle if the automatic braking control is executed while the own vehicle 10 travels along the avoidance route. When an affirmative decision is made at S44, the control flow goes to S43 at which the flag value of the avoidance control flag FL is set to 0. When a negative decision is made at S44, the control flow goes to S45 at which the flag value of the avoidance control flag FL is set to 1. Thus, one execution of the subroutine for the continuous obstacle avoidance process ends.

When it is determined at S22 of the program for the avoidance control that the forward obstacle is not the continuous obstacle, it is determined at S24 whether the forward obstacle is the moving object which is moving in the right-left direction of the own vehicle 10 or the stationary object. When the forward obstacle is the moving object, the control flow goes to S25 to execute a process for determining whether the own vehicle 10 can avoid the moving obstacle. The process is executed according to a subroutine for a moving obstacle avoidance process indicated by a flow chart of FIG. 10. In the subroutine, a current position of the moving obstacle with respect to the forwardly extending centerline of the own vehicle 10 is confirmed at S51, and a movement direction and a moving speed of the moving obstacle are obtained at S52. It is subsequently determined at S53 whether the moving obstacle is moving toward the forwardly extending centerline or away from the forwardly extending centerline. When the moving obstacle is moving toward the forwardly extending centerline, an avoidance direction in which the vehicle is to travel for avoiding the moving obstacle is determined at S54 such that the avoidance direction coincides with the movement direction of the moving obstacle. On the other hand, when the moving obstacle is moving away from the forwardly extending centerline, the avoidance direction is determined at S55 such that the avoidance direction is opposite to the movement direction of the moving obstacle.

Subsequently, at S56, the avoidance route for avoiding the moving obstacle is searched for in the determined direction, and it is determined at S57 whether the avoidance route is found. When the avoidance route is found, the value of the avoidance control flag FL is set to 1 at S58. When no avoidance routes are found, the value of the avoidance control flag FL is set to 0 at S59. Thus, one execution of the subroutine for the moving obstacle avoidance process ends.

When it is determined at S24 of the program for the avoidance control that the forward obstacle is the stationary object, the control flow goes to S26 at which the avoidance direction is determined such that the own vehicle 10 will travel toward one of the right side and the left side of the forward obstacle on which a distance between the forward obstacle and a corresponding one of the right boundary and the left boundary of the driving lane is larger than the other of the right side and the left side, based on the positional relationship between the own vehicle 10 and the boundaries of the driving lane. Subsequently, the avoidance route for avoiding the stationary object is searched for at S27. It is then determined at S28 whether the avoidance route is found. When the avoidance route is found, the value of the avoidance control flag FL is set to 1 at S29. On the other hand, when no avoidance routes are found, the value of the avoidance control flag FL is set to 0 at S30.

It is subsequently determined at S31 whether the avoidance control to avoid the forward obstacle is executable is confirmed based on the value of the avoidance control flag FL. When the value of the avoidance control flag FL is 1, it is determined at S32 whether the request to execute the avoidance control has been made in the program for the automatic braking control. When the request has been made, the control flow goes to S33 at which a command to permit the own vehicle 10 to travel along the determined avoidance route is transmitted to the steering system 14. Thus, one execution of the program for the avoidance control ends.

Functional Configuration of Collision Avoidance Assist System

The DSS-ECU 40 as a controller for executing the control described above includes functional portions to execute the processes explained above. As shown in FIG. 1, the DSS-ECU 40 includes: a forward obstacle detecting portion 100 configured to detect the forward obstacle based on the detection results of the stereo camera 42; a driving lane identifying portion 102 configured to identify the driving lane of the own vehicle 10 based on the detection results of the stereo camera 42; a collision judging portion 104 configured to judge the risk of collision of the own vehicle 10 with the forward obstacle detected by the forward obstacle detecting portion 100; a notification process executing portion 106 configured to activate the alert device 16 when there is a risk that the own vehicle 10 will collide with the forward obstacle; an automatic braking control executing portion 108 configured to execute the automatic braking control when the risk of collision of the own vehicle 10 with the forward obstacle is high; and an avoidance control executing portion 110 configured to execute the avoidance control when the risk of collision of the own vehicle 10 with the forward obstacle is still high even after the automatic braking control has been executed.

In the DSS-ECU 40 as the controller in the present collision avoidance assist system, the forward obstacle detecting portion 100 and the driving lane identifying portion 102 are constituted so as to include a portion that executes S1-S3 of the program for the forward obstacle detecting process. In the present collision avoidance assist system, the stereo camera 42 and the forward obstacle detecting portion 100 constitute a forward obstacle detecting device. The collision judging portion 104 is constituted so as to include a portion that executes S5-S7 of the program for the forward obstacle detecting process and a portion that executes S11-S16 of the program for the automatic braking control. The notification process executing portion 106 is constituted so as to include a portion that executes S14 of the program for the automatic braking control.

The automatic braking control executing portion 108 is constituted so as to include a portion that executes S17 and S20 of the program for the automatic braking control. The avoidance control executing portion 110 is constituted so as to include a portion that executes the program for the avoidance control. A portion that executes S26 of the program for the avoidance control, a portion that executes S41 of the subroutine for the continuous obstacle avoidance process, and a portion that executes S56 of the subroutine for the moving obstacle avoidance process function as an avoidance route determining portion 112, and the avoidance control executing portion 110 includes the avoidance route determining portion 112.

The DSS-ECU 40 further includes an avoidance control prohibiting portion 120 configured to prohibit execution of the avoidance control when the own vehicle 10 will stop at a position that is forwardly beyond the front end of the continuous obstacle if the own vehicle 10 stops by the automatic braking control while avoiding the continuous obstacle by the avoidance control. The avoidance control prohibiting portion 120 is constituted so as to include a portion that executes S44 and S43 of the subroutine for the continuous obstacle avoidance process. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A vehicle collision avoidance assist system for assisting avoidance of a collision: between an own vehicle on which the system is installed; and an obstacle, the system comprising: a forward obstacle detecting device configured to detect, as a forward obstacle, one of objects present ahead of the own vehicle that will hinder the own vehicle from travelling forward; and a controller including (a) an automatic braking control executing portion configured such that, when a risk of collision of the own vehicle with the forward obstacle detected by the forward obstacle detecting device is high, the automatic braking control executing portion executes an automatic braking control in which a brake apparatus installed on the own vehicle automatically operates to brake the own vehicle and (b) an avoidance control executing portion configured such that, when the risk of collision of the own vehicle with the forward obstacle is still high even after the automatic braking control has been executed, the avoidance control executing portion executes, in addition to the automatic braking control, an avoidance control in which a steering apparatus installed on the own vehicle automatically operates to enable the own vehicle to avoid the forward obstacle, wherein the avoidance control executing portion is configured such that, when the forward obstacle detecting device detects, as the forward obstacle, a continuous obstacle that continuously extends diagonally forward so as to be inclined with respect to a forwardly extending centerline that forwardly extends from a center of the own vehicle, the avoidance control executing portion executes the avoidance control to enable the own vehicle to avoid the continuous obstacle such that the own vehicle travels along the continuous obstacle.
 2. The vehicle collision avoidance assist system according to claim 1, wherein the controller includes an avoidance control prohibiting portion configured to prohibit execution of the avoidance control, and wherein the avoidance control prohibiting portion prohibits execution of the avoidance control when the own vehicle will stop at a position that is forwardly beyond a front end of the continuous obstacle if the own vehicle stops by the automatic braking control while avoiding the continuous obstacle by the avoidance control.
 3. The vehicle collision avoidance assist system according to claim 1, further comprising an alert device configured to issue an alert to a driver of the own vehicle when there is a risk of collision of the own vehicle with the forward obstacle, wherein the automatic braking control executing portion is configured such that, when the driver performs no operation after the issuance of the alert and the risk of collision of the own vehicle with the forward obstacle accordingly becomes high, the automatic braking control executing portion executes the automatic braking control.
 4. The vehicle collision avoidance assist system according to claim 1, wherein the avoidance control executing portion is configured such that, when the forward obstacle detecting device detects the forward obstacle within a driving lane that is a driving range in which the own vehicle is to travel, the avoidance control executing portion executes the avoidance control so as to enable the own vehicle to avoid the forward obstacle within the driving lane.
 5. The vehicle collision avoidance assist system according to claim 4, further comprising a driving lane identifying device configured to identify the driving lane by recognizing a right boundary and a left boundary of the driving lane, wherein the avoidance control executing portion is configured such that, when the forward obstacle detecting device detects the forward obstacle in the driving lane, the avoidance control executing portion executes the avoidance control to enable the own vehicle to avoid the forward obstacle such that the own vehicle travels toward one of opposite sides of the forward obstacle on which a distance between the forward obstacle and a corresponding one of the right boundary and the left boundary of the driving lane is larger than the other of the opposite sides. 